Pop-up toy



v- 4, 1958 P. A. DERHAM POP-UP TOY Filed Feb. 1 1957.

INVENTOR. PHILIP A. DERHAM AT ToRMaY 2,858,644 POP-UP TOY Philip A. Derllam, Audubon, Pa., assignor to Wilkening Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application February 1, 1957, Serial No. 637,796

1 Claim. c1. 46-146) The present invention relates generally to childrens toys and more particularly to toys of the so-called jackin-box' pop-up type.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful childrens toy which is simple and inexpensive to produce, rugged and resistant to breaking, and entertaining in. mode'of operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a j-ack-in-box pop-up toy in which the lid orcover is mounted directly upon the movable pop-up element (as distinguished from the hinged lids customarily employed). Still another object of this invention is to provide a jack-in-box pop-up toy wherein the outer case or housing is of deformable material adapted to be manually squeezed to efiect release of the popup element. A further object of the present invention is to provide a jack-in-box pop-up toy wherein the springmounted pop-up element is maintained in angular posi tion when enclosed within its outer case or housing, so that, upon release, it springs up in a novel gyrating manner.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, appended claim and accompanying drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating this invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is presently preferred; it being understood, however; that the diiferent parts and elements can be variously arranged and organized without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout:

Figure 1-is a perspective view of a pop-up toy embodying the present invention; the toy being shown in open position, that is, with the pop-up element protruding from the case or housing.

Figure 2 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, of the embodiment of Fig. 1; showing the appearance of the toy 'in closed position, with the popup element locked in place.

. Figure 3 is a view of the toy in closed position, partly in section and partly in elevation, but at an angle of 90 degrees from the view of Fig.2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the lid locking structure, locking generally in the direction of the arrows 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 55 of Fig. 2; the normal circular lock- States Patent 0 ing position of the housing aperture or mouth being shown in solid lines while the manually distorted generally oval release position is shown in dash-dot lines.

According 'to'the embodiment of Figs. 1-5, I may provide a jack-in-box pop-up toy including a hollow housing 10 which is preferably molded or otherwise appropriately formed of any suitable material capable of being temporarily deformed when manually squeezed and of returning to its original shape when released. I have found that the relatively soft but form-retaining and somewhat resilient synthetic resins, such as styrene, are particularly well suited for this purpose although rubber (of an appropriate degree of softness) or other suitable material can be used.

The housing 10 may be molded so as to have the external appearance of a piece of fruit, for example an apple, although the ornamental appearance of the toy is not part of thisinvention.

A normally circular opening or mouth 12 is formed at the top of the housing 10 and is provided with an integrally formed inwardly directed annular flange 14, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5.

The annular flange 14 is provided with at least one pair of diametrically-opposed slots '16. In Fig; 1, there are shown two such pairs of diametrically-opposed slots 16, so that the individual slots are spaced degrees apart. However, it is also possible to employ only a single pair of diametrically-opposed slots or to employ more than two such-pairs of slots; as for example three pairs of slots which would provide six individual slots spaced 60 degrees apart. I

The bottom 18 of the housing 10 may have a somewhat raised central portion 20 which is positioned more or less at the level of an inwardly directed annular flange 22;

the central portion 20 and the annular flange 22 forming I ly, along a centralline 30 running completely around the head.

The head 28 is shown, in Figs. 1-3, as resembling the head of a worm although, again, the ornamental appearance forms no part of the present invention.

The head includes a downwardly and outwardly tapered generally frusto-conical neck portion 32 terminating in a flat generally circular bottom wall 34. Each of the two half-sections of the bottom wall 34 is provided with an eye portion protruding downwardly at the seam or fastening line 30; the two eye portions being juxtaposed when the head half-sections are fastened together, so as to form a downwardly protruding eye 36 disposed centrally of, and parallel to, the line 30, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The head 28 is mounted upon a helical spring 40 of frusto-conical configuration; the upper smaller end of the spring bearing against the bottom wall 34 and being secured thereto by a straightened generally diametric end portion 38 which passes through the eye 36, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The lowermost turn ,or turns of the spring 40 are inserted into the annular compartment 24 formed at the bottom of the housing 10 by a rotating or twisting motion,

so that the pop-up element is fastened to, and supported.

by, the bottom of the housing.

upper end of'th'e sleeve 42 fitting over, and being fastened to, the outside of the lower neck portion '32.

Fastened to the top of the head 28 is a lid or cover 44 which may be molded or otherwise suitably formed of the same material as the housing lit), for example a synthetic 5 resin like styrene.

The lid or cover 44 is complementary, in external appearance, to the housing so that, when the lid or cover 44 is locked in place, covering the housing mouth 12, the two together give the external "appearance of the com- 10 pleteiipieee of fruit.'- In theillustrative"form'snowrn in Figs.I-1, 2 and-3; the'external appearance-of thelid or cover 44 is that ot the top of an applewith a generally convex confignratiom a-central dip or hollow and a stemalthough,-a's mentioned abovegthe ornamental 'ap'pearance' fi or design forms'no part-of the present invention.

The ilnderside of the lid 44 is provided with-a-down wardlydirected 'hub '46 which is adhesively or otherwise-" appropriately fastened to the head 28 at apoints'omewhat to the rear of the central vertical axis 48 of the head; the reason for this to be brought out-herein'belowi Extending diametrically across'the underside of-the lid 44, from the hub 46,-isan integrally'forrned relativelythin strengthening rib 50 provided, at its-outer ends; with down-' wardly projecting locking 'elem'ents'52, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Each of the lOcking elem'entSSZ is provided-with an inwardly and downwardly inclined camming surface 54 at its lower outer edgef An inwardly directed locking notch 56 is formed in each locking element 52' at the upperend of the 'camming surface '54. The distance between-'the upper ends of the two camming surfaces54 is slightly greater than the distance between the inner walls of any pair of the diametrically-opposed flange slots 16, whereas,- the distance between the lower ends of the two camming surfacesis slightly less than the distance between the inner walls of the pair of diametrically-opposed flange slots. As indicated best'in Fig. 4, the transverse dimension of each' downwardly projecting locking element 52 is slightly less than'the transverse dimension of the flange slots 16, so 40 that the 'lockingelement'can move vertically within the slot.

It is apparent that, if the lid 44 is so positioned relative= 1 to the mouth 12 that th'e'projectingilocking elements 52 are inline'with any pair ofdiametrically-opposedflange? slots16, the lid can be manually depressed (compressing. the spring 40) "to enable the locking elements'to enter, 91'. and pass downward through the slots 16. The inclined cammingrsurfaces '54. contact the inner walls of the slots: 16 and momentarily force them apart enabling the upper 6 ends :of' the cammingesurfaces to pass downward beyond? the slots until the rim of the lid or cover seats itself -upon the mouth flange-14, as indicated in Fig. 2.

In this position, the underlying locking elements *52 maintain the lid 44 insposition upon the housing-10 with-. the spring 40. compressed.

Due to the fact that the hub 46 of the lid 44 is fastened to the head 28 at a point somewhat removed from the a headaxis line 48, the head28 is tilted somewhat from the vertical when the lid is locked tothe housing 10, as. shown in Fig. 3. This results in a corresponding displaces... ment of the spring axis-line 58 from the vertical so than the two.- axis lines :48 and 52 are at-a substantialangleer to each other when the lid 44 and the pop-up element 26 are in the closedposition. of Figs. 2 and.3.

The manner of operating the toy is best indicated in Fig. 5 .whereinthe normal circular locked position of the housing mouth 12 is shown in solid lines. Whenthe housing 10 is squeezed. by the users fingers, at more or less diametric points which are appreciably angularly displaced.from .the line. of the rib 50, the pressure.-causesm.. temporary deformation-lot the housing and changes. the configuration of the housing mouth 12to a generally..oval.- shape as indicated in dash-dot lines in Fig.6 I

Since the pair of flange slots 16 with which the locking seated Iupon =said mouth flange, the outer-ends of the and inwardly inclined cammingsurfaces constructed and" elements 52 are engaged are located more or less along the "major'axis of the oval configuration of the housing mouth 12, they are now spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than the distance between the outer edges of the two locking shoulders 60 formed by the notches 56.

As a result, the lid 44 and the head 28 are free to jump upward, under the action of the compressed spring 40, to the protruding or open position shown in Fig. 1.

Due to the angular displacement of the head axis line 48 and the spring axis line 58, the sudden upward movement of the pop-up element 26 is accompanied by a gyrating or twisting movement so that the element 26 continues to vibrate or rock vigorously back and forth for an appreciable time after the popup element 26 is released.

This provides an amusing and interest-attracting zactioni-i ff for a child.

The extent of the gyrating action is increased by T3 reason of the added weight provided at the top of the pop-up element 26 by the lid 44.

Since the lid is fastened to the headxslightly behind the axis line 48, it tends to tilt the pop-up element 26 backwards slightly, when in open position, so as to make the face of the head 28 more easily visible, as illustratedin Fig." 1. I,

Since the pop-up eIement26 is mountedon the s ring 40, the lid can be readily rotated to fit into any of u the pairs" of diametrically=opposed flange" slots- 16 for easy re-locking.

Then'ovelpop-up toy'of the'prese'nt 'i'n'vention' can-1M be fabricated "easily andiinexpe'nsiv'ely andis durable and a long-lasting;'-theuse of strong shock absorbi'n'g material.E-=l like styrene"'enabling it"to withstandthe punishment to 1 r whichchildrehstdys .aresubjected.

The present invention may be embodied'in"otherspe-h. cific forms; and therefore, the above-described embodi-. a ment'is'to' be considered "in all respects merely as illus it trative and"not restrictive'; reference being'made to the i. appendedclaim as indicating the true scope of this ini vention.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claimas' new and desireto protect by Letters Patent the following:

A childrens pop-up toy'compr'ising a generally hol-flow housing formed of somewhat soft and resilient man n ually deformable non=metallic material, said housing hav 1 ing an upper normally C'ircularhaouth whichis prov-ide'd with an inwardly directed annnlan -flange said -moutlrflange being provided with. aeplurality of uniformly-42in cumferentiallyl'spaced .pairs .of diametrically-oppose slots, a. .pop-up elemenLincludin'g a compression-spring i and a head or the llike linounted at the -upper end-of said sp ring, fastening means for securing the lower'endn; of the spring to..the inner bottom ofsaid housing,-a lid or cover mounted upon-the head andconstructed 'and= r arranged tofit snugly upon and to cover said mouth, "and "f releasable locking means for causing lockingengagement of the rim of saidlid with the edge of. said mouth at on or more points when said lid ismanually forced down ward to move the pop-up element=zfrom partially:upi wardlyprotruding?spring-extended position to fully'-'en-- closed spring-compressed position within the housing; said: locking means comprising a pairatof diametric'ally':-opposed' downwardly protrudingelements each: having at shoulder-constructed and arranged/tounderlie and emgage the juxtaposed portion of the flangewhen'the lidisflocking shoulders underlyingthe inner walls of the flange slots, said locking elements passing throughthe diamet-m: rically' opposed slots in the annular-flange when moving? downwardly .to engaging position, the lower outer ends 1: of the locking elements being-provided with downwardly.

arranged .to. contact and momentarilyldisplace-the inner-a walls .of. the slots:.-to. facilitate engagement of the locking elements, 'the locking elements being provided with 5 notches extending inwardly from their outer walls generally at the upper ends of the camming surfaces, the notches engaging the flange slots to prevent rotational shifting of the locked lid and pop-up element, squeezing pressure upon the housing at points below the mouth opening and appreciably displaced from the line of the two locking elements causing ovalizing distortion of the mouth suflicient to shift the engaged portions of the flange away from the locking element shoulders so as to effect release of the pop-up element and lid, thereby enabling the pop-up element and lid to jump up suddenly under the pressure of the compressed spring, the plurality of uniformly circumferentially spaced pairs of diametri- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 99,023 Splitdorf Jan. 18, 1870 821,468 Dashiell May 22, 1906 1,036,284 Lippke et al. Aug. 20, 1912 1,693,150 Malonyay Nov. 27, 1928 2,422,913 Leach June 24, 1947 

